Atalanta starlet Giorgio Scalvini has distanced himself from reports linking one of Serie A’s breakthrough talents with a move to Premier League champions Manchester City, speaking to L’Eco di Bergamo.
From Dejan Kulusevski to Amad Diallo, Franck Kessie to Cristian Romero; when it comes to making top dollar for players who arrived for a fraction of price, Atalanta are right up there with the very best profit-makers in all of Europe.
And Scalvini, having joined as a little-known teenager from Brescia back in 2015, is the latest Bergamo-based youngster to catch the eye. The 18-year-old has started every one of Atalanta’s last three league games, scoring the winner in a 1-0 triumph away from home at Roma recently.
His sudden emergence looks even more impressive when you consider that Scalvini is not even playing in his natural position under Gian Piero Gasperini.
Manchester City eyeing Atalanta’s Italy international Giorgio Scalvini
“I have always felt more of a defender. That is the position I have played in for the longest time,” explains Scalvini, who has spent much of 2022/23 playing in a midfield role. “But the truth is that I feel good in both positions and play where the coach tells me.
“My idol has always been Thiago Silva. Then, I have always been compared with (Inter Milan’s Alessandro) Bastoni and I am inspired by him.”
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are keeping tabs on Scalvini. He made his Italy debut in the summer’s 5-2 UEFA Nations League defeat to Germany. Per La Republicca, the £18 million-rated Scalvini also has admirers at Chelsea, Roma and Juventus.
But, when quizzed on those rumours, Scalvini insists that he is not letting the speculation distract him. Second-place Atalanta are currently just two points behind Serie A pacesetters Napoli.
“I’m not reading this news,” he explains. “Usually, my friends bring it to me. In reality, I don’t think about it. I only have Atalanta on my mind and I want to do well with this shirt.
“(Where will I be) in ten years? I don’t know yet. But I hope to have reached high levels, even with Atalanta.”
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